Over 600 lots of antiques and artworks went under the hammer on 30th June and 1st July at the Cheffins Fine Sale, hosted at the firm’s salerooms in Cambridge.
Amongst the 160-lot picture section, the highest value work was a painting titled ‘Burning Weeds’ by Scottish artist, Alexander Mann, which sold for £14,000, against an estimate of £8,000 - £12,000. The sale also included a number of pictures by Old Masters, including a still life by Franz Werner Von Tamm, signed and dated 1715. This sold for £4,800, over its presale estimate of £2,000 - £3,000. Views of Venice and Rome also proved to be continually popular, with two pictures by Giacomo Guardi selling for £4,400 apiece, whilst a watercolour by Arthur Abbott, depicting the Monument of Gaius Cestius in Rome, sold for £4,200, eclipsing its estimate of £300 to £500.
Also included in the sale were over 50 lots of furniture, antiques, ceramics and collectors’ items from the famous Hertfordshire estate, Julians Park. Built in 1605, this magnificent country house was home to established socialite and art collector, Mrs Audrey Pleydell-Bouverie, who was Lady-in-Waiting to the Queen and counted the likes of Cecil Beaton, Coco Chanel, Salvador Dali and Fred and Adele Astaire in her social circle. Mrs Pleydell-Bouverie appointed the influential interior decorator and designer, Stéphane Boudin of French atelier Maison Jansen to assist in the decoration of Julians Park and went on to collect furniture and artwork from across the world in her redesign of the property. Many of these pieces were offer at the sale, with leading lots including three Italian 18th century marble busts, one of the young Bacchus, which sold for £20,000, a bust of a young Emperor which made £13,000 and another of a maiden which sold for £1,100. Also, within the Julians Park collection was a pair of Chinese cloisonné horses, which sold for £1,500, a Regency mahogany side cabinet which sold for £2,200 and a pair of gilt side tables, circa 1930’s, which made £4,400.
Leading the furniture section was a fine mahogany sideboard table, in the manner of Thomas Hope from circa 1810. Supported by four lion monopodia with an elaborate brass gallery, the table was at one time, part of the furnishings of Balls Park in Hertfordshire. It sold for £12,000, against an estimate of £7,000 - £10,000. For collectors, a carved Royal Coat of Arms of the House of Stuart, dating back to the late 17th century was popular, selling for £5,000.
Prices reported are hammer prices, not inclusive of buyers’ premium and VAT.
Auction: The Fine Sale – 30th June & 1st July 2021
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, fine.art@cheffins.co.uk